Hearing loss is just a normal part of aging, right? It may be common, but hearing loss can lead to other serious health concerns and should be addressed right away.
Studies show that hearing loss is the strongest modifiable risk factor for dementia. Even just mild hearing loss increases the risk of dementia two-fold. Severe hearing loss can increase the risk by eight-fold.
“We know it also causes depression and anxiety, and it causes people to isolate themselves because they're finding it harder to communicate and that's kind of a vicious cycle, right? Depression and isolation will make cognitive decline even worse,” said Nofrat Schwartz, MD, an Neurotologist (ear, nose and throat surgeon that specializes in ears) at Yale New Haven Health and assistant professor of Otolaryngology at Yale School of Medicine.
However, Dr. Schwartz explains that treating hearing loss has been shown to slow down cognitive decline. That’s why recognizing it early is so important.
How common is hearing loss in older adults?
It’s estimated that one out of three patients 60 and older will have some sort of hearing loss. Not all patients are the same, and some may have very mild hearing loss that progresses gradually, while others may have more significant hearing loss.
There are two main types of hearing loss in adults: Conductive and Sensorineural hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss stems from issues related to the outer or middle ear, so sound cannot reach the inner ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss is far more common and comes from the nerve component of hearing. This can be caused by factors such as aging, noise exposure or genetics.
Treatment options for hearing loss
Hearing aids are often the best option for addressing hearing loss due to aging. Dr. Schwartz says not only do they work well, but they can be covered by insurance. In Connecticut, they are covered fully by Medicaid.
When it comes to severe hearing loss, sometimes hearing aids are not enough. If the nerve damage is very severe, sometimes hearing aids can only offer volume and not clarity. That’s when we turn to cochlear implants. A cochlear implant is a surgical device in which an electrode is introduced to the inner ear to help restore hearing and clarity.
“They’re really a life changing technology,” said Dr. Schwartz. “Is it normal hearing like patients were used to? No, it’s electric hearing as opposed to acoustic hearing. So, it’s not as rich, but it gives back the ability to hear and communicate effectively for deaf patients. The most important part is clarity. With the decline in hearing, it’s not only just hearing noises. It’s the ability to understand speech that determines the ability to communicate and that’s what is getting hampered the most.”
Do I have hearing loss?
At any point when someone feels like they are struggling with hearing, they should speak to their doctor and get a hearing test to understand the severity and their options. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for older adults to realize that something is wrong, because if hearing loss is gradual, they may not think it’s a problem.
“Families are sometimes the first to know that hearing is declining. Discussing that with family helps because I’ve seen patients that come in with severe hearing loss and think they are managing just fine, but their family says no, they’re not,” said Dr. Schwartz. “It’s not until they put on hearing aids that they understand how much they were missing.”
Physical symptoms such as pain or drainage from the ear should also warrant a trip to the doctor. But often noticing changes in behavior could be the earliest sign of all.
“If someone is retracting from any social interaction because of hearing, that should be a huge red flag that something’s not right. That’s exactly how isolation starts,” said Dr. Schwartz. “That’s exactly the process we want to stop and help those patients before it gets to be severe.”
That's why awareness can make a big difference. Once patients or loved ones know the signs of hearing loss, they can get the help they need.
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